Sometimes We Clean Up OK!

Sometimes (not often), we get dressed up! And most of the time when we do, it's for something fun. But this time, it was beyond fun -- it was for a spectacular evening. (Followed the next day by fun with our grands!)

 

The occasion was the Michigan Emmy Awards, held  Detroit. (For those not familiar with this award, the Emmy is presented for excellence in television production. Awards are first presented regionally and may include everything from video promotion to local news and weather. You might be more familiar with the national Emmy Awards, in which programs you are more likely to see in any market in the country, or even internationally, are honored.

 

We were there as guests of our friends Judy and Dick Winter, whose film about the special needs music camp they founded in honor of their son Eric ("Camp RicStar"), was nominated in the Best Documentary category. (In the U.S. you can see the film HERE. I'm not sure about out-of-country.)

 

I've known Judy since she worked for WKAR selling ads for the magazine I edited. That was a good thirty years ago. In that time, Rick and I have enjoyed countless parties and celebrated many a Christmas Eve with the Winters. That included Eric, who passed in 2003 from complications from cerebral palsy at the age of 12. Since then, (and actually before), Judy has made advocating for special needs her mission. Eric adored music so creation of the camp in Eric's honor was one way they could do this, while honoring Eric's memory. The film, recognizing the camp's 20th year, was yet another. 

Eric loved music and Rick played his guitar for him on one of our Christmas Eve get togethers.

The venue for the event was the gorgeous Fillmore Theatre, which has a bit of history itself. It was built in 1925 in the Renaissance Revival style and opened as the State Theatre in 1925. Prior to being renamed the Fillmore in 2007, it had several names and became a venue for special events such as "American Idol" finals and the Detroit Music Awards. It has been restored and it is a stunner!

 

The lobby has a marble staircase leading to a balcony area and the ceilings are beautifully painted and accented with elaborate chandeliers. 

 

Entering through a series of stained glass doors, you find yourself a second lobby with two large bars, open to the theatre auditorium itself with its elaborate proscenium arch.

 

It is flanked on both sides by box seating and you can imagine the rich and wealthy having sitting there, looking down on the rest of us! Now it is purely decorative.

 

The seats were removed for tables for the dinner. We were lucky to be on a slight elevation in the tiered seating so, though farther from the stage, we had a fabulous view!

 

Am I keeping you in suspense? We sat through the dinner and the (very) long procession of winners in other categories. "Best Documentary" was in the last "act" of the awards. But it was worth the wait! The film was a winner! Judy, Dick and writer/editor Lukas Hauser stepped to the podium to accept the award.  

 

And there was much celebration with our group that included Judy's daughter and son-in-law (Jenna and Erik) and three of the people interviewed in the film -- Erik's best childhood friend, Sam and RicStar camper David and his mom, whose story is told. 

 

We got dressed up too! (This doesn't happen often). And if I may digress, it's very difficult to find pantyhose or nylons these days! I called about (after the first two places I went to didn't have them) and one customer service person said "What are those?") I finally found knee sock nylons (all I needed with my long skirt, fortunately, at a Kroger store!)

 

So, of course we had to pose for pix! 

 

It was such a wonderful evening. And we were filled with joy for our friends, for whom this was truly a labor of love.

 

That night we stayed over at Kevin and Molly's and enjoyed some delightful time with the grands. 

 

We even had a fast-paced game of "Sorry!"

 

And, I got to get better acquainted with the new cutest dog in the world, Teddy Graham.

 

Can you beat it? Good friends, a terrific event and family time? It was a roadtrip weekend to remember! 

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